In a historic yet controversial move, the coalition government successfully passed the 26th Amendment on the dawn of October 21, aimed at judicial reforms, with the Prime Minister calling it a “historic achievement.”
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) president Nawaz Sharif was also present on the floor of the National Assembly. However, instead of giving a long speech, the former Prime Minister recited a couplet to express his feelings.
Addressing the floor, he said, “The suffering I’ve been subjected to at the hands of judiciary can only be described through this poetry: Naazo Andaaz se kehte hain ke jeena hoga, zehr bhi dete hain tu kehte hain ke peena hoga, jab main peeta hu tu kehte hain ke marta bhi nai aur jab main marta hu tu kehte hain ke jeena hoga.”
Nawaz sat down after reciting the stanza amidst smiles from lawmakers. However, in a funny turn of events, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (F) chief Maulana Fazal ur Rehman, while laughing, addressed the floor: “ You [Nawaz Sharif] have quoted wonderful poetry, but you’ve made a mistake. The word ‘tu’ should never be added for emphasis because then the poetry gets ruined.”
The bill was initially presented in the National Assembly during a late-night session beginning at 11:36 PM, but it was extended past midnight, and the bill was finally passed at 5 AM.
The coalition government required 224 votes to pass the bill. As the voting began, 225 MNAs supported the motion, with 12 members from the PTI and the SIC opposing the motion.
